A Literature Analysis Of Cost Studies On Cancer

Abstract

Pharmacoeconomic studies present and measure the use of cost-effectiveness analysis mainly at country basis, in the literature. In Turkey, the ratio of total health expenditures to GDP is 5.4%. Around 159,000 people are annually diagnosed with cancer and almost 69,000 of them died every year. Direct treatment cost of cancer is app. €1 billion annually, means that cancer share of all health expenditures would be 3%. This study aims to review literature regarding cost studies conducted in Turkey in the field of cancer through the PubMed, ISPOR data base and ULAKBIM and to draw attention to the low number of studies. Three databases (PubMed, ISPOR and ULAKBIM) were searched up to June 15, 2017 using the keywords of cost, cancer, and Turkey. There were only 48 publications/presentations, of which 27/9/12 from PubMed/ISPOR/ULAKBIM. Only 12 studies (3/PubMed, 5/ISPOR and 4 ULKABIM) could be included in the analysis as they contained costs for Turkish population. Of these studies, 3 were on lung cancer, 1 on colon cancer, 2 was on cancer pain, 3 was on renal cancer ,2 were on renal and lung cancers and 1 on farmakogenetic issues in cancer treatment. According to these studies: the total cost of lung cancer per-patient was approximately €10,698±13, 190. The total direct medical cost of lung, breast, hematological, head and neck, colorectal, gastric, gynecological, and prostate cancers ranged between €1077-4675 (2014). The median total cost per patient was €912 in non-small cell lung cancer patients and €908 in small cell lung cancer patients. Although Turkey is a country with 80 million population and has a well-developed health system, such small number of cost studies about cancer; the second cause of all deaths, is an issue that should be addressed.